Key Fobs and Menu Access Level Authorization for Control Panels via Bluetooth Pairing with User Devices

1. A method comprising initially pairing a user device with a control panel and entering a menu access level personal identification number (PIN) into the control panel, whereinafter the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the method comprises automatically pairing the control panel with the user device and granting menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within range of the control panel and/or the user device manually connects to the control panel, and wherein: pairing the user device with the control panel comprises pairing the user device with the control panel via Bluetooth short-range wireless communication protocol and/or via Bluetooth Low Energy short-range wireless communication protocol; and after the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the method includes using the user device as a Bluetooth key fob for the control panel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein: the control panel comprises an engine control panel configured to be operable for controlling, monitoring, and providing protection for an electronically or mechanically governed engine; and the engine control panel is configured with autostart, manual operations, and readouts of important sensors.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method includes automatically pairing the control panel with the user device and granting menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within a Bluetooth radio frequency range of the control panel.

4. A method comprising initially pairing a user device with a control panel and entering a menu access level personal identification number (PIN) into the control panel, whereinafter the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the method comprises automatically pairing the control panel with the user device and granting menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within range of the control panel and/or the user device manually connects to the control panel, and wherein: the user device comprises a smartphone; the control panel comprises an engine control panel; pairing the user device with the control panel comprises pairing the smartphone with the engine control panel via Bluetooth short-range wireless communication protocol; and after the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the method includes using the smartphone as a Bluetooth key fob for the engine control panel.

5. A method comprising initially pairing a user device with a control panel and entering a menu access level personal identification number (PIN) into the control panel, whereinafter the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the method comprises automatically pairing the control panel with the user device and granting menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within range of the control panel and/or the user device manually connects to the control panel, and whereinafter the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the control panel automatically powers up or wakes up, pairs with user device, and grants menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within range of the control panel and/or the user device manually connects to the control panel, without requiring manual use of a physical key to unlock the control panel and without requiring manual reentry of the menu access level PIN.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the method includes manually using a physical key to unlock the control panel before the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel.

7. A method comprising initially pairing a user device with a control panel and entering a menu access level personal identification number (PIN) into the control panel, whereinafter the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the method comprises automatically pairing the control panel with the user device and granting menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within range of the control panel and/or the user device manually connects to the control panel, and wherein the method includes: automatically powering up the control panel when the user device is within range of the control panel; or automatically waking up the control panel from sleep in which a display of the control panel is off and the control panel is in a low power mode when the user device is within range of the control panel.

8. A method comprising initially pairing a user device with a control panel and entering a menu access level personal identification number (PIN) into the control panel, whereinafter the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the method comprises automatically pairing the control panel with the user device and granting menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within range of the control panel and/or the user device manually connects to the control panel, and wherein the method includes: automatically powering up the control panel when the user device manually connects to the control panel; or automatically waking up the control panel from sleep in which a display of the control panel is off and the control panel is in a low power mode when the user device manually connects to the control panel.

9. A method comprising initially pairing a user device with a control panel and entering a menu access level personal identification number (PIN) into the control panel, whereinafter the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the method comprises automatically pairing the control panel with the user device and granting menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within range of the control panel and/or the user device manually connects to the control panel, and wherein the method includes automatically granting user menu access level rights, tech menu access level rights, or admin menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within range of the control panel and/or the user device manually connects to the control panel.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein: pairing the user device with the control panel comprises pairing the user device with the control panel via Bluetooth short-range wireless communication protocol; and/or pairing the user device with the control panel via Bluetooth Low Energy short-range wireless communication protocol.

11. The method of claim 10, whereinafter the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the method includes using the user device as a Bluetooth key fob for the control panel.

12. A method comprising initially pairing a user device with a control panel and entering a menu access level personal identification number (PIN) into the control panel, whereinafter the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the method comprises automatically pairing the control panel with the user device and granting menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within range of the control panel and/or the user device manually connects to the control panel, and wherein the method includes: if multiple control panels are available for pairing with the user device, selecting a control panel from the available multiple control panels and verifying that the selection of the control panel is correct; and confirming that the selected control panel and the user device are displaying a same pairing PIN for the selected control panel.

13. A control panel comprising: a wireless interface configured to allow the control panel to pair with a user device; and a user interface configured to allow a user to enter a menu access level personal identification number (PIN) into the control panel; whereinafter the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the control panel is configured to automatically pair with the user device and grant menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within range of the control panel and/or the user device manually connects to the control panel, and wherein: the control panel is configured to pair with the user device via Bluetooth short-range wireless communication protocol and/or via Bluetooth Low Energy short-range wireless communication protocol; and after the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the control panel is configured such that the user device is usable as a Bluetooth key fob for the control panel.

14. The control panel of claim 13, wherein: the user device comprises a smartphone; and the control panel comprises an engine control panel.

15. The control panel of claim 13, wherein: the control panel comprises an engine control panel configured to be operable for controlling, monitoring, and providing protection for an electronically or mechanically governed engine; and the engine control panel is configured with autostart, manual operations, and readouts of important sensors.

16. The control panel of claim 13, wherein the control panel is configured to automatically pair with the user device and grant menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within a Bluetooth radio frequency range of the control panel.

17. A system comprising a smartphone and the control panel of claim 13 configured to pair with the smartphone, whereinafter the initial pairing of the smartphone with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the control panel is configured to automatically pair with the smartphone and grant menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the smartphone is within range of the control panel and/or the smartphone manually connects to the control panel.

18. A control panel comprising: a wireless interface configured to allow the control panel to pair with a user device; and a user interface configured to allow a user to enter a menu access level personal identification number (PIN) into the control panel; whereinafter the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the control panel is configured to automatically pair with the user device and grant menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within range of the control panel and/or the user device manually connects to the control panel; and whereinafter the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the control panel is configured to automatically power up or wake up, pair with user device, and grant menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within range of the control panel and/or the user device manually connects to the control panel, without requiring manual use of a physical key to unlock the control panel and without requiring manual reentry of the menu access level PIN.

19. The control panel of claim 18, wherein the control panel is configured such that a physical key is required to manually unlock the control panel before the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel.

20. A control panel comprising: a wireless interface configured to allow the control panel to pair with a user device; and a user interface configured to allow a user to enter a menu access level personal identification number (PIN) into the control panel; whereinafter the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the control panel is configured to automatically pair with the user device and grant menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within range of the control panel and/or the user device manually connects to the control panel; and wherein: the control panel is configured to automatically power up when the user device is within range of the control panel; or the control panel is configured to automatically wake up from sleep in which a display of the control panel is off and the control panel is in a low power mode when the user device is within range of the control panel.

21. A control panel comprising: a wireless interface configured to allow the control panel to pair with a user device; and a user interface configured to allow a user to enter a menu access level personal identification number (PIN) into the control panel; whereinafter the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the control panel is configured to automatically pair with the user device and grant menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within range of the control panel and/or the user device manually connects to the control panel; and wherein: the control panel is configured to automatically power up when the user device manually connects to the control panel; or the control panel is configured to automatically wake up from sleep in which a display of the control panel is off and the control panel is in a low power mode when the user device manually connects to the control panel.

22. A control panel comprising: a wireless interface configured to allow the control panel to pair with a user device; and a user interface configured to allow a user to enter a menu access level personal identification number (PIN) into the control panel; whereinafter the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the control panel is configured to automatically pair with the user device and grant menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within range of the control panel and/or the user device manually connects to the control panel; and wherein the control panel is configured to automatically grant user menu access level rights, tech menu access level rights, or admin menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the user device is within range of the control panel and/or the user device manually connects to the control panel.

23. The control panel of claim 22, wherein: the control panel is configured to pair with the user device via Bluetooth short-range wireless communication protocol and/or via Bluetooth Low Energy short-range wireless communication protocol; and after the initial pairing of the user device with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the control panel is configured such that the user device is usable as a Bluetooth key fob for the control panel.

24. A system comprising a smartphone and a control panel configured to pair with the smartphone, the control panel including a wireless interface configured to allow the control panel to pair with the smartphone; and a user interface configured to allow a user to enter a menu access level personal identification number (PIN) into the control panel; whereinafter the initial pairing of the smartphone with the control panel and entry of the menu access level PIN into the control panel, the control panel is configured to automatically pair with the smartphone and grant menu access level rights based on the previously entered menu access level PIN when the smartphone is within range of the control panel and/or the smartphone manually connects to the control panel; and wherein: the system includes an electronically or mechanically governed engine; the control panel comprises an engine control panel configured to be operable for controlling, monitoring, and providing protection for the electronically or mechanically governed engine; and the engine control panel is configured with autostart, manual operations, and readouts of important sensors.